Apparatus for generating heating and illuminating gases



(N0 ModeL) J J NEWELL 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

APPARATUS FORGENERATING HEATING AND ILLUMINATING GASES. No. 314,871 PatentedMar.31,1885.

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J. J. NEWELL. APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HEATING AND ILLUMINATING GASES.

No. 314,871. Patented Mar. 81 1885.

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J. J. NEWELL.

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HEATING AND ILLUMINATING GASES.

No. 314,871. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

WITNE s SE8 INVETOR r BY A l n. PETERS, Phowl-ilhcgnpher. Walhinflnn m a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. NEWELL, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

APPARAIUS FOR GENERATING HEATING AND ILLUMINATING GASES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 31%,8'71, dated March 31, 1885.

Application filed March 26, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMESIJ. N WELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenaweeand State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Gencrating Heating and Illuminating Gascs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to the manufacture of heating and illuminating gases from petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbons, superheated steam, and air; and it consists of an apparatus having a furnace, a series of re torts with suitable connections, means by which the steam is superheated, an atomizer in which the hydrocarbon is vaporized, and an injector in which the superheated steam and air are blended and forced into the atomizer, all so arranged as to act automatically, whereby the vaporized hydrocarbon and gases evolved from the steam and air are decomposed and combined so as to form fixed gas.

The object of my invention is to produce heating and illuminating gases at a small percentage of the cost at which they are now produced by any known apparatus pr process by an apparatus simple in construction, readily understood, easy of adaptation to manufacturing or other establishments, practical and uniform in its operation, and certain initsresults. i p

I am aware that heating and illuminating gases have been manufactured fromhydrocarbon oils, steam, and air by different apparatuses and processes; but so far as I have been able to learn such apparatuses and pro cesses have not proven to be of great utility torts, and theleadingin and connecting pipes.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the atomizer,

the leading-in; connecting, and distributing pipes. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my apparatus, partly broken away, showing a gang of pipes on the side of the furnace for superheating the steam in part,the atomizer, leadingin pipes, and drip-pipe attached to the atomizer, through which water and other deleterious substances may be eliminated. Fig. 4 isa rear end view of my apparatus, showing the retorts, connecting and distributing pipes, and test-jet. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of my apparatus. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of my apparatus, showing the construction of the furnace, location'of the gas-burner, flue, retorts, and pipes. Fig. 7 is a top view of the gas-burner. Fig. Sis a sectional view ofthe injector.

A represents the brick structure containing my apparatus, constructed with two compartments-an upper and lower-the lower compartment for the furnace, and the upper to contain the retorts and be used as a retortheating chamber.

B represents the lower compartment, and B the upper.

The lower compartment is constructedpreferably, of a rectangular oblong shape, as shown in Fig. 6,extending backward nearly the entire length of the brick structure, having a flue near the front end to convey the flame and heat to the upper chamber, and a grate tosupport the fuel or gas-burner. The interior of this chamber is lined with fire-brick.

On either side of this chamber, and outside end to end of the brick structure. as shown in Fig. 6. These retorts may be of any desired diameter, 0* being about twice the diameter of O, C, and O and are preferably arranged l gangs, which are kept at a very high degree as shown, but may be otherwise arranged, if desired.

D, the atomizer, is a hollow iron tube, of

5 about one-half the diameter of the retorts G C 0 extending the entire length of the brick structure, but exterior thereto, and having suitable openings for the injector, the hydro' carbon-feed pipe, the drip-pipe, and connect- IO ing-pipe with retort G on the rear end.

E is the injector, having entrance and exit openings at a a, nozzle 1), sleeve 0, and chamber d. The opening a is into atomizer D, as shown in Fig. 8. o

F F are gangs of pipes for superheating the steam in part in the spaces on the sides of the fire-chamber.

F is a similar gang of pipes in retort 0, connected to gang F by pipe 72, where the superheating of the steam is completed.

f is a pipe to convey the steam from any steam-chamber to gang F.

g is a pipe to convey the steam from gang F to gang F.

h is a pipe to convey the steam from gang F to gang F t is a pipe to convey the steam from gang F to injector E.

j is a pipe with openings j j for the admission of air or natural gas, and connected to injector E. v

k is a pipe to convey hydrocarbon to atomizer D.

Z is a drip -pipe, with a suitable stop cock, 3 5 extending below injector E to carry off any water which may be condensed in retort (3 or pipe 2'.

m is a drip -pipe, with suitable stop cock,

extending below atomizer D to carry off any 0 water or deleterious substances which may be condensed in the atomizer.

n n are pipes connecting the retorts in front, and 'n is a pipe connecting retorts O and (3 at the back end.

0 is a pipe connecting atomizer D with ,retort O.

ppp are pipes to convey the gas, when fixed, either to a furnace or to a gas-holder.

G is a gas-burner consisting of a hollow tube constructed in three parts, as shown in Fig. 7,

- in the shape of a horseshoe, and perforated on the upper side to allow the gas to escape. This burner may be inserted in the fire-box, as shown in Fig. 6, being connected by pipe to retort 0*, or to the gas-holder after sufficient gas has been manufactured to heat the furnace instead of heating with coal or other fuel. It may also be used with proper connecting-pipe to generate steam in the furnace under the steam-boilers.

r is a door opening into the fire chamber. The operation of my invention is as follows: The steam generated in any boiler conveniently located is conveyed to the gang-pipes F through pipe f, from thence through pipe g to gang F, from thence through pipe h to gang F The steam passing through these of heat, is superheated, and in this condition is conveyed from gang F through pipe t to injector E, passing in at opening a, and thence to atomizer D. As the steam passes opening a in the injector a vacuum is formed in chamber d, which draws in the air, which, blending with the steam, these together take up the hydrocarbon coming into atomizer D through pipe 7c and vaporize the same. The vapor thus formed passes through atomizer D into retort 0 through pipe 0, from thence by pipe 11. to retort C, from thence by pipe n to retort O and from thence by pipe n to retort C, where it is converted into a fixed or cured gas. The gas is formed by passing the vapor issuing from atomizer D over the heated inner surfaces of the several retorts. When so formed, it is carried by pipes 19 p from the retort O" to the furnace for use, or by pipe 1; to the gas-holder.

When the gas formed is to be used for heating purposes, it need not be subjected to any further treatment. When it is to be used as an illuminating-gas, it should be cleansed by passing it through a washer or scrubber of any well-known construction.

I am able by my apparatus herein described to enrich or dilute natural gases flowing from fissures in the earth. When it is desired that such natural gases should be enriched, I pass the same into injector E in place of the air, and convey it into the atomizer D with the steam,where it comes in contact with the hydrocarbon issuing from pipe 70, vaporizing the hydrocarbon, and the vapor thus formed from steam, natural gas,and hydrocarbon is conveyed into the retorts, combined and fixed, the same as vaporized hydrocarbon, as above described. When it is necessary to dilute the natural gases, the hydrocarbon is cut off and the air and natural gas and steam are united and pass into the atomizer. By the union of the air and steam with the natural gas the same is diluted, and may be made of any degree of richness below its natural state required.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. In an apparatus for enerating heatingand illuminating gases from atmospheric air, petroleum or other hydrocarbons, and superheated steam, the combination of a heatingchamber, one or more retorts for decomposing and fixing the gases, an injector, and a tubular atomizer of approximately the same length as the retorts exterior to said chamber in which the petroleum or other hydrocarbons are vaporized and then blended with the steam and air, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for generating heating and illuminating'gases from atmospheric air and petroleum or other hydrocarbons and superheated steam, the combination of a fire,- chamber with gang-pipes on either side thereof and adjacent thereto, a heating-chamber cont aining a series of retorts to fix the gases, an thereto, a heating-chamber containing a series atomizer of tubularform exterior to said chamof retorts one of which contains a gang of bers provided with a drip-pipe, and an inpipes for completing the superheating of the z 5 jector so constructed as to blend the supersteam, an atomizer, an injector, and a test-jet 5 heated steam and air before the same comes in to determine the quality of the gases produced,

contact with the hydrocarbon, substantially substantially as described. as described. In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig- 3. In an apparatus for generating heating nature in presence of two witnesses.

and illuminating gases from atmospheric air JAMES J. NEWELL.

10 and petroleum or other hydrocarbons and su- Witnesses:

perheated steam, a fire-chamber with gang- E. M. MARBLE, pipes for superheating the steam adjacent E. REEVES. 

